At about 5:00 PM on Sunday, November 26, 2017, a detective from District A-7 (East Boston) was on patrol in the area of Bennington and Trident Streets, when his attention was drawn to an individual walking to his car in the nearby restaurant parking lot. The detective noticed that the license plate on the male’s vehicle was bent up making it difficult to read. Finding this suspicious, the officer followed the motor vehicle out of the parking lot until he could make out the plate number, at which time the detective noted that the plate and vehicle description matched that of a car involved in an unrelated assault and battery incident that the detective was investigating. During that incident, it was reported that the suspects of the A&B fled in the above vehicle and may be in possession of a firearm. Given this information, the detective made a stop of the motor vehicle.

Upon approaching, he observed the operator moving around nervously and appeared to reach under his seat. When the detective asked what he was nervous about, the operator produced four bags of marijuana from the center console. The operator continued to move erratically and bang on the steering wheel. Concerned for his safety, the detective requested additional units and ordered the operator out of the vehicle. Once the operator was out of the vehicle, the detective shined his flashlight on the floor near the operator’s seat and observed what appeared to be the handle of a firearm. Further investigation revealed it was a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun. Officers also recovered a digital scale from the driver’s seat. The operator, identified as 21-year-old Jamal Molina of Hyde Park, was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Unlawful Possession of a High Capacity Feeding Device, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Class D (Marijuana).